Scripture:
Isaiah 46:10-13 God says: “Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish. I will call a swift bird of prey from the east— a leader from a distant land to come and do my bidding. I have said what I would do, and I will do it. “Listen to me… For I am ready to set things right, not in the distant future, but right now! I am ready to save Jerusalem and show my glory to Israel.
Isaiah 65:24 Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear.
John 5:17 But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.”
Ephesian 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Reflection:
If you could know what the next 10 years would hold, would you want to know? Sounds tempting to be able to know what lies ahead of us.
I think that many of us would be eager to know what is ahead, yet that’s usually only when we’re thinking about the joys, the blessings, the good things, or even the bad things we would hope we could avoid with some fore knowledge.
But if I could look into the future, I know that I would personally begin to try to “manage” everything that was to come in one, three, five, or even seven years from now. With what I know about myself, I think I’m going to take a pass on knowing the future. A long season of anticipating a good thing may be a delight; but a long season of anticipating pain, loss or tragedy is quite another.
I have a friend that challenges me with the statement; “God has called us to ‘be present’ as followers of Jesus.” Too often, our attention and focus is on something other than what is presently happening, and we miss out on what God is doing right now, right in front of us. Jesus said to his followers, “My Father is always working, and so am I.”
While it may be tempting to know what is going to happen in the future, knowing what is happening in the present is a far more productive place to be. Being present when I am with my kids, my work associates and even at the grocery store can help me step into the good works, which God prepared beforehand. Being present helps me be effective in God’s kingdom. It is not the future that we need to be focused upon, it’s the hear and now.
God has our future…that is his domain. Ours is only to be obedient with what we call “Today.”
David
Prayer: Lord, help me to be present today for the good works, which you have prepared in advance for my life. May I step into each encounter or engagement full of the Holy Spirit and ready to do your bidding. May I be your hands sand feet, bringing your presence and kingdom to earth, as it is in heaven. Thank you that you hold my future and I can trust that you will be with me, both in my todays, and my tomorrows! Amen.
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